Wink Poppy Midnight

December 21, 2015
Tucholke (Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea) rapidly alternates among the perspectives of teenagers Wink, Poppy, and Midnight in a dark, unpredictable mystery that subverts literary conventions like the hero’s journey while shimmering with sumptuous descriptions and complicated psychologies. Midnight both loves and is infuriated by classmate Poppy, who seemingly lives to manipulate others for attention. In an attempt to get over Poppy, Midnight takes up with Wink, the odd, outsidery girl from across the street, who is surrounded by siblings and whose mother reads tarot cards and tea leaves for neighbors. Poppy and her entourage often congregate near a decrepit mansion in the forest, though they’re all slightly afraid that it’s haunted; the book turns on a fateful night when Poppy conspires to lock Wink in the house overnight. Poppy’s jealousy and Wink’s obsession with a heroic fantasy novel bring additional hints of intrigue to the plot, while occult accouterments, descriptions of the wild landscape, and a twisting-turning plot create an uncertain atmosphere that constantly shift readers’ perceptions of who is trustworthy. Ages 14–up. Agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary & Media.

Starred review from January 15, 2016
Balancing between possibly paranormal and just plain disturbing, Tucholke walks a fine, spine-chilling line. Dark-haired, awkward (but soon to be gorgeous) Midnight is in love with Poppy, the beautiful, blonde, high school queen with a cruel streak a mile wide. Poppy is in love with Leaf Bell, an older boy who can see "right through the pretty" to the "ugly on the inside." A self-described bully, Poppy is "built for winning and getting what I wanted and not for trying to be better." Determined that, if her life is to be one of "desperation, then it would be loud, not quiet," she is frustrated by Leaf's indifference. Dreamy Wink is Leaf's younger sister and a neighborhood oddball--the girl with the tarot card- and tea leaf-reading mother, a freckled dreamer who maybe reads a little too much. But Wink knows every story needs a Hero and a Villain and revolves around three essentials: revenge, justice, and love. Populating her gothic narrative with a mostly white cast, Tucholke writes in three alternating voices, presenting an eerie, tangled story with plenty of questions: Who can be trusted? Who--or what--pulls the strings? High on teen drama and with plenty of trauma--mostly emotional, with a little physical thrown in--the book keeps readers wondering. Nicely constructed and planned, with unexpected twists to intrigue and entertain. Bottom line? Beware of girls who read books.... (Suspense. 12 & up)

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February 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-In her follow-up to Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea (Dial, 2013), Tucholke showcases her talent for storytelling once again in a mystery challenging readers' perceptions. Seemingly innocent and story-obsessed Wink believes Midnight plays an important role in her life, seemingly heartless and self-obsessed Poppy might only love herself, and seemingly naive Midnight has feelings for both girls. These teen narrators offer up their version of events. But who's manipulating whom? And what kind of story are they weaving? Fairy tale? Antibullying allegory? Coming-of-age narrative? At times frustrating but always compelling, Tucholke's book has its fair share of liars, yet her prose is far from superficial. As with her previous writing, descriptive settings are easily pictured, sexual encounters are nongratuitous, and unique characterization turns archetypes inside out. Children with long parental leashes find trouble and ultimately realize that real people can play the dual roles of hero and villain, in their own stories and in others. Vague enough at times to be open to interpretation, this title will keep readers on their toes. VERDICT A recommended purchase for public and school libraries, particularly those looking to prompt discussions on unreliable narrators and tricky storytelling.-Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ

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February 15, 2016
Grades 10-1 Poppy is the villain: the beautiful, cruel queen of the neighborhood. Midnight is the hero: the thoughtful boy next door who has loved Poppy most of his life, until moving two miles down the road breaks her spell on him. And Wink is the mystery: the odd, unreadable girl who talks in riddles and is obsessed with fairy tales (or so it seems). But there's more going on here than meets the eye, and the three teenagers' fatesand the roles they play in one another's storiesare far more entwined and complicated than they seem at first glance. In airy, atmospheric prose, Tucholke has constructed an ethereal story where nothing ever feels quite real. Eerie, dark, and unusually sensual, this mysterylove story is similar in tone to E. Lockhart's We Were Liars (2014) and will appeal especially to older readers who are looking for surprising plot twists, a creepy fairy-tale vibe, ambiguous narrators, and a world where nothing is ever really what it seems.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)